Bylaws of the South Carolina Chapter

Section 1 – Names and Objectives

The name of this organization shall be the South Carolina Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, hereinafter referred to as the Chapter. The purpose of the Chapter shall be those of the American Fisheries Society, as set forth in the Constitution of the Society, hereinafter referred to as the Parent Society. Subunits may be established at the direction of the membership to fulfill the objectives of the Chapter.

Section 2 – Membership and Dues

Membership in the Chapter shall be available to anyone with an interest in the fishery resources of South Carolina, in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Parent Society. Members pay dues annually and their membership extends through the calendar year (only) for which dues are paid.

Dues shall be collected annually to cover reasonable expenses of the Chapter and its Committees, subject to review of the membership. The amount of dues will be established initially, and may be subsequently adjusted if necessary, by majority vote of the membership at an annual meeting.

Membership in the Parent Society shall be paid by the Chapter, on request, for any person elected to an Office in the Chapter, for the tenure of that Office.

Section 3 – Meetings

The Chapter shall hold at least one meeting annually at a time and place designated by the Executive Committee. The program at the annual meeting shall be the responsibility of the Program Committee. The business of the Chapter will be conducted during a business session at the annual meeting, in accordance with the Constitution of the Parent Society, and Robert’s Rules of Order. Special meetings and workshops may be scheduled during the year by the Executive Committee and planned by the Program Committee.

The Executive Committee may assess each registrant attending a meeting or workshop a registration fee over and above annual dues to cover the costs of the meeting and associated Chapter activities.

Section 4 – Officers

The officers of the Chapter shall consist of a President, a President-Elect, and a Secretary-Treasurer.

Officers shall be elected biennially at an annual meeting. Only active members of the Parent Society are eligible to serve as officers of the Chapter. Terms of office shall be two years, and shall commence at the close of the Chapter meeting at which elections are held. In the event an office is vacated, the Executive Committee shall appoint a qualified replacement to fill the unexpired term.

In the event of a cancellation of an annual meeting at which an election would otherwise be held, the officers and the members of any committee shall continue to serve until the next scheduled meeting.

Section 5 – Duties of Officers

The President of the Chapter shall preside at all meetings, chair the Executive Committee, represent the Chapter on the Executive Committee of the Southern Division and at the American Fisheries Society meetings, and make appointments and perform other duties and functions as are authorized.

The President-Elect shall chair the Program Committee and shall assume the duties of the President if the latter is unable to act.

The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep the official records of the Chapter, shall record the minutes of Chapter meetings, and shall collect and be the custodian of any funds collected by or allotted to the Chapter. The Secretary-Treasurer shall disburse funds as authorized by the Executive Committee or the membership, and submit a record of receipts and disbursements at the annual Chapter meeting.

Other duties may be requested by the Executive Director of the Parent Society or by officers of the Southern Division.

Section 6 – Executive Committee

The Executive Committee of the Chapter shall consist of the elected officers, the immediate Past President, and Presidents of any established Subunits. The Committee is authorized to act for the Chapter between meetings and to perform appropriate duties and functions.

Section 7 – Chapter Committees

Standing Committees shall include:

Nominating, which recommends candidates for offices and conducts a ballot election at the annual meeting.

Membership, which recruits new members for the Chapter and the Parent Society.

Resolutions, which develops and recommends resolutions for consideration by the Chapter membership.

Awards, which evaluates presentations at the annual meeting for the Jack Bayless Award for best paper and considers special awards for approval by the Executive Committee.

Bylaws, which conducts an annual review of the Chapter Bylaws and recommends changes, if any, to the Executive Committee for consideration by the Chapter membership.

Program, which plans the annual meeting and other special meetings and workshops.

Ad hoc committees may be appointed by the President to address special concerns of the Chapter, Standing and Ad hoc committee members and chairs shall be appointed by the President, except as noted in Section 5. Only active members of the Parent Society are eligible to chair Chapter Committees.

The terms of office for members of Chapter Committees shall end upon the discharge of the duties for which they were appointed, or at the next annual meeting of the Chapter, whichever comes first.

Section 8 – Voting and Quorum

Decisions at Chapter meetings shall be by simple majority, except that changes to these bylaws shall require a 2/3 majority of those present and voting.

A quorum at any meeting for the transaction of official business shall be 12.

Section 9 – Honors and Awards

The Jack Bayless Award will be presented annually to the author of the best paper, as judged by the Awards Committee, given during the Technical Session of the previous annual meeting. The Award will consist of a plaque honoring the memory of the late Jack Bayless, inscribed with the name of the recipient and the year of the meeting. The plaque will be procured by the Secretary-Treasurer upon receipt of a report from the Chair of the Awards Committee at the end of the meeting at which papers were judged.

The Chapter shall present other honors and awards as directed by the membership.

Section 10 – Amendment of the Bylaws

The Bylaws of the Chapter may be amended by a two-thirds majority approval of those members voting, provided that prior notice of at least 30 days be given the membership of the proposed change(s). Said change(s) must be approved by the Governing Board of the Parent Society before taking effect.